Lalit Gupta
JAMMU, July 17: Performance of Hindustani adaptation of Nicolai Gogol’s Russian drama ‘The Government Inspector’ by Natraj Natya Kunj, at Abhinav Theatre, here today, came out as a fast pace comedy that generated a non-stop riot of laughter from the audience.
Adapted by Kumar A Bharti, directed, designed and music by Abhishek Bharti, the play revolved around a small time thief, who in a typical case of ‘comedy of errors’, makes most out of the mistaken identity as a high Government officer; enjoys hospitality extended by the Mayor, pockets bribe offered by corrupt officials, and after making false promise of marrying Mayor’s daughter vanishes. The news of the arrival of the true inspector leaves all the cleaver characters crestfallen.
The play aimed at showing the ugliness of society and deep seated corruption, in its adapted version being full of references to Jammu’s socio-political situation especially viz-a-viz Kashmir, along with typical idioms, proverbs and colloquial expressions scripted in a smattering of Hindi/ Dogri script gave a kind of topicality to the presentation, which struck a chord with the audience.
Designed as a masala comedy the play was an amalgam of forms of comedy and styles ranging from physical, musical, wordplay and insults, succeeded in provoking mirth in forms of roars of laughter.
Senior actors and young participants of one-month theater workshop held by Natraj Natya Kunj, gave an impressive presentation marked with excellent timing of dialogs, punch lines and body movements.
The collage of body theater along with well choreographed dance and musical sequences composed to the tune of popular filmy songs gave the show an overall popular appeal which surely can auger well for drawing young spectators to local theater productions.
Manoj Dhamir Shammi and Aaditya Bharti gave captivating performances. Other actors who also impressed included Kannav Sharma, Vishal Pandita, Karan Kashyap, Surbhi Balgotra, Neha Bhatt, Niharika Sakshi, Dipshi Mahajan, Shubhangi Dhamir, Lalit Sharma, Rakesh Dogra, Mukesh Bakshi, Manik Sharma and Rahul Sharma.
The backstage team included choreography by Romit Sawhney, make-up by Manoj Shammi Dhamir, lights by Aman Sharma & Akshay Razdan, costumes by Raman Bakshi and Sonia Dubey.
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